John il mcleod



Nrre STATES PATE T OFFICE.

CAR-COUPLING,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,681, dated December 4, 1883,

Application filed September 19, 1888. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, JOHN KENNEDY Mo- LEOD, of the city of London, in the county of Middlesex, in the Province of Ontario, Ganada, lumberer, have invented a new and useful Automatic Oar-Coupler; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of the invention is to devise a simplyconstructed and effective operating self-acting car-coupler in which the ordinary draw-head, coupling -pin, and link are employed; and it consists, essentially, in providing horizontal levers pivoted to the end of the car and connected by suitable adjustable mechanism to the coupling-pin; also, in journaling on the bottom of the end of the car a rod extending from side to side, and having a crank centrallylocated, and so arranged that by rocking the rod in its journal the crank will lift the link and serve as a guide for directing it into the coupling approaching it, simple devices for compensating the various movements of the draw-headbeing provided, as hereinafter explained.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective end view of a car, showing the levers and attachments for raising the pin, and the cranked rod for handling the link. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the connection between the pin and the lifting-levers. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the spring-catch for holding the levers so as to elevate the coupling-pin. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the form of crank used in handling the link, the compensating spring being exhibited. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the form of the joint in the pin-elevating lever.

In devising my automatic car-coupler I have kept inview the necessity for providing mechanism by which the coupling-pin may be handled without danger, and without the necessity of altering the pattern of any of the parts now commonly used.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the ordinary draw-head, attached to the lower timbers of the car in the usual manner, and provided with a compression-sprin g, whi ch permits of its longitudinal movement.

B is the ordinary coupling-pin, and O the ordinary couplinglink.

D is a horizontal pin held in the head E, and arranged to pass through a hole in the head of the coupling-pin B.

F are curved springs attached at one end to the head E-one on each side of itand to the levers G, which are located as indicated. The ends of the curved springs F which are attached to the levers G are pivoted so that they have a horizontal movement, to compen sate for the longitudinal movement of the draw-head which carries the pin. The levers Gr are pivoted, respectively, on their pivot-pins, (marked H,) which are fixed to the end timber of the car, as indicated. These pivot-pins permit the levers to have a vertical tilt in order to raise the coupling-pin. On the inside of each pivot-pin H the levers G are jointed at I, so that the said levers have a horizontal motion to allow the draw-head to move freely in case the joint connecting the levers to the curved springs F is. not sufiicient to compensate for the longitudinal movement of the drawhead.

J is a spring-latch, fixed one at each end of the levers G, and so arranged that they can be clipped into a notch in the bracket K, in order to hold down the outer end of the lever, and thereby suspend the coupling-pin B when for any reason it may be desirable to so suspend it. It will thus be seen that owing to the connections and location of the levers G the coupling-pin can be elevated without the necessity of going between the cars. The curved springs F will cause the pin to spring down again so soon as the outer end of the lever G is released; but when it is desired to suspend the pin, it is, as before said, effected by locking the spring-latch J into the notch formed in the bracket K.

With the view of supporting and guiding the link when about to couple, I provide a crank, L, which is connected, as indicated, to therod M. This rod is providedwithasuitable handle on each side of the car, so that, like the levers G, it may be handled from whichever side of the car it is at the time most convenient. This crank L is provided with a spring, N, and

is so jointed that it may be compressed in the event of it coming in contact with the approaching draw-head, or from any other cause, the spring being arranged to force it back into its initial position.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a draw-head provided with an ordinary coupling-pin, B, a head, E, connected to the coupling-pin, and provided with springs F, in combination with the lever G, pivoted to the end of the car, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a draw-head provided with an ordinary coupling-pin, a head, E, connected to the coupling-pin, and provided with springs F, 

